Clamp



E. J. MAYER June 8, 1937.

CLAMP Filed Sept. 4, 1936 Patented .lune 8, 1937 UNITED FATENT OFFICE 7Claims.

The invention relates generally to clamping devices and moreparticularly to clamping devices adapted for use in removably securingarticles of clothing such as dresses, skirts, trousers and the like uponcoat hangers or similar supporting devices.

I am aware that clamping devices of this general character haveheretofore been provided but no such device of which I have knowledgeembodies the advantages of simplicity, adaptability to universal use,surety in the clamping function and safety against the harming ofclamped articles which comprise the objectives and attainments of thenovel spring wire, sheath protected devices herein described.

With these and other objects in view the invention further resides inthe novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter describedand claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a detail perspective view of the improved clamp member perse.

Figure 2 is a detail end elevation illustrating the clamp memberremovably attached to the end of a coat hanger of the loop wire type byone form of mounting device.

Figure 3 is a face view of the parts shown in Figure 2 moved to positionfor efiecting separation of the clamping member from the mountingdevice.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view illustrating another form ofmounting device.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view illustrating still another form ofmounting device.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through theseveral figures of the drawing.

My invention comprises a novel clamp member and several novel optionalmounting devices by employment of which such clamps may be removablyattached to coat hangers of various types or other supporting devices.

My improved clamp member is formed of a single length of spring wire tocomprise an upprotective rubber or other suitable tubing ll, See Figure1.

I have devised several forms of mounting devices by which my improvedclamp may be mounted upon coat hangers of the well known wooden or wiretypes some of which include cross bars and others of which are devoid ofsuch equipment.

In the form of supporting device disclosed in Figures 2 and 3 of thedrawing, which I have shown applied to the free end of a loop wire typeof hanger a fragment of which is indicated at [2, I employ a wire bodyl3 sheathed as at l4 and terminating at its lower end in an openmounting eye l5.

By reference to Figure 3 of the drawing it will be observed that thesheath [4 extends downwardly to the free end of the eye so as torestrict the outlet as indicated at l6 and thereby permit free mountingof the clamp shown in Figure 1 of the drawing but prevent inadvertentremoval of the same. The wire body I3 is bent upon itself as at I! toform a substantially parallel opposed leg I8 which is sheathed as at IS.The sheaths l4 and I8 yieldably grip the cross wire end loop or crossbar I2 therebetween as indicated at 28 so as to assure againstinadvertent displacement of the mounting device while readily permittingintentional removal thereof.

The lower end of the free leg H is bent at a.

retaining angle 2| so as to close ofi the space defined between the wirebodies I3, l1, and thus removably retain the mounting device on the coathanger loop or cross wire. It will be obvious that, if desired, thismounting device can be applied to a wooden coat hanger including theusual narrow fiat cross bar which will be receivable between thesheathwire bodies l3 and II. In the mounting of this device the angle bentfree end of the wire body ll may be readily deflected to provide freeaccess to the space intervening the sheaths l4 and I8.

In Figure 4 of the drawing, I have disclosed another form of mountingdevice and have shown the same to be mounted upon a coat hanger of thewooden bow typeindicated at 22 and including the cross bar 23. This formof device comprises two spaced substantially vertical arms 24, sheathedas at 25, and connected at their lower ends by a loop 26 adapted to bereceived in the mounting coil 5 with which the clamp device is provided.

At their upper ends the arms 24 are bent oppositely, horizontally, oneterminating in a yieldable free end 28 and the other being bent into atransverse spring loop 29 and into an open square clamp portion 30disposed in opposition to the sheathed arms 24. This form of mountingdevice may be employed to removably grip the cross bar of the hangerbetween the sheathed arms 24 and the clamp square 3!! as illustrated inFigure 4.

In Figure 5 of the drawing, I have illustrated another form of mountingdevice applied to a coat hanger of the type shown in Figure 4 and whichincludes the same general form of vertical arms 3|, sheathed as at 32,and connected by a loop 33 receivable in the mounting coil 5 of theclamp, and upper arms 34 bent oppositely, horizontally one terminatingin a free end 35. other arm 34 is bent centrally, laterally as at 36 andthen upwardly to form a side arm 3'! including a coil or finger seat 38.After formation of the side arm and finger seat the wireis. formed intoa central spring coil 39 and thence into aside .arm 40 including-a coilor finger seat 4| positioned to oppose the seat 38. After formation ofthe finger seat 4| the wire is bent in opposition to and across theportion 33 as at 42 and is then formed intoan open square clamp 43opposed to the arms 3| and sheathed as at 44.

By pressing at opposite sides atthe finger seats 38 and 4| the clampportions 32 and44'may be spread apart-to straddle the coat hangerportion and thenbe permitted to grip said portion as illustrated inFigure 5.

It will be noted that in all forms of the mounting devices and in myimproved clamp unit, the structures are formed of a single piece ofspring wire bent into suitable shape. In each of the mounting devicesthere is included a free end, as at'2l in Figures 2 and 3,28 in Figure4, and 35 in Figure 5 whereby the mounting coil 5 of the clamplunit maybe mounted or removed at will.

When in use the clamp device shown, in Figure 'S'maybe gripped at thefinger seats 1 and by the application of pressure the sheathed clampingportions H can be forced apart and applied to the article to be clamped.

It will be obvious that theclamp and the several forms'of the mountingdevice are adaptable to use for supporting all forms of garments such ascoats, trousers, skirts, and dresses, securely and without fear ofdamaging the material of which they are composed.

It is of course to be understood that the details of structure andarrangement of parts may be variously changed and modified withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention.

said clamp formed of a single length of spring wire to include meansforattachment to said mounting eye, means for attachment to a support, anda free end facilitating connection and disconnection with said mountingeye.

including a finger seat, said side arms being directed toward eachother'then crossed and extended transversely-oppositely to terminate inopposed clamp loops; and a mounting device for said clamp formed of a'single length of spring The wire bent upon itself to form a mountingloop and substantially parallel mounting arms, one said mounting armterminating at its free end in a free spring end angle-bent to overliethe companion arm, and the remaining mounting arm terminating at itsfree end in a mounting eye to removably receive the spring coil mountingeye of the clamp.

3. A clamp of the character described formed of a single length ofspring wire to comprise a spring coil mounting eye, opposed side armseach including a finger seat, said side arms being directed toward eachother then crossed and extended transversely-oppositely to terminate inopposed clamp loops; and a mounting device for and substantiallyparallel mounting arms, one

said mounting arm terminating at its free end in a-free spring endangle-bent to overlie the companion arm, and the remaining mounting armterminating at its free end in a mounting eye to removably receive thespring coil mounting eye of the clamp, and one said mounting arm havinga yieldable protective sheath extended to form a yieldable closure forsaid free end mounting eye.

4. A clamp of the character described formed of a single length ofspring wire to comprise a spring coil mounting eye, opposed side armseach including a finger seat, said side arms being directed toward eachother then crossed and extended transversely-oppositely to terminate inopposed clamp loops; and a mounting device for said clamp formed of asingle length of spring wire shaped to form a mounting loop receivablein the spring coil mounting eye, spaced mounting arms extending upwardlyfrom the mounting loop and'having their free ends turned toward eachother one terminating in a free spring end and the other shaped to forman upper central transverse mounting eye terminating ina spring clampframe yieldably opposing said mounting arms.

5. A clamp of the character described formed of a single lengthof-spring wire to comprise a spring coil mounting eye, opposed side armseach including a finger seat, said side arms being directed toward eachother then crossed and extended transversely-oppositely to terminate inopposed clamp loops; and a mounting device for said clamp formed of asingle length of spring wire shaped to form a mounting loop receivablein the spring coil mounting eye, spaced mounting arms extending upwardlyfrom the mounting loop and having their free ends turned toward eachother one terminating in a free spring end and the other shaped to forman upper central transverse mounting eye terminating in a spring clampframe yieldably opposing said mounting arms, and a sheathof yieldablematerial on each said mounting arm.

6. A clamp of the character described formed of a single length ofspring wire to comprise a spring coil mounting eye, opposed side armseach including a finger seat, said side arms being directed toward eachother then crossed and ex tended transversely-oppositely to terminate inopposed clamp loops; and a mounting device for said clamp formed of asingle length of spring wire shapedto form a mounting loop receivable inthe spring coil mounting eye, spaced mounting arms extending upwardlyfrom the mounting loop and having their free ends turned horizontallytoward each other one to terminate in a free spring end and theotherbent transversely and upwardly to form a side arm including afinger seat thence into an upper central spring coil mounting eye thenceagain downwardly to form an opposing side arm including a finger seatthence across said first mentioned side arm and terminating in a springclamp frame yieldably opposing said mounting arms.

'7. A clamp of the character described formed of a single length ofspring wire to comprise a spring coil mounting eye, opposed side armseach including a finger seat, said side arms being directed toward eachother then crossed and extended transversely-oppositely to terminate inopposed clamp loops; and a mounting device for said clamp formed of asingle length of spring wire shaped to form a mounting loop receivablein the spring coil mounting'eye, spaced mounting arms extending upwardlyfrom the mounting loop and having their free ends turned horizontallytoward eachother one to terminate in a free spring end and the otherbent transversely and upwardly to form a side arm including a fingerseat thence into an upper central spring coil mounting eye thence againdownwardly to form an opposing side arm including a finger seat thenceacross said first mentioned side arm and terminating in a spring clampframe yieldably opposing said mounting arms, and protective sheathingfor said mounting arms and portions of said clamp frame.

EDWARD J. MAYER.

